Page 115 of Into Pitch

“Oh my God!”

She streaks around the counter and collides with me so hard I stagger, her arms locking around me like she’s afraid I’ll vanish the moment she lets go. Her whole body is shaking and I feel the way her breath hitches painfully against my chest in a sob.

“You’re alive,” she chokes. “You’re actually fucking alive.”

Right. Shit. I’ve got to have a story and one that’s convincing.

“I’m here,” I murmur.

She pulls back just enough to grab my face in both hands, her eyes wild and red-rimmed.

“Where the fuck have you been? Do you have any idea what I thought?” She demands as she all but shakes me.

I open my mouth, but I haven’t actually come up with the lie yet so nothing comes out. Her hands drop and her expression collapses inward, anger folding into something raw and shaking.

“They questioned me,” she whimpers hoarsely. “The cops did. Twice. They asked about you and the bar. I didn’t tell them about Pitch though, because I was scared that if the people at Pitch found out—if they hadn’t already grabbed you—they would.”

Fuck, that hurts a little bit. Knowing just how badly it would have hurt if she had done the same and disappeared on me.

“I’m sorry,” I manage to whisper.

“Sorry?” Her hands shake as she gestures at me. “Sadie, I thought you were dead in a ditch somewhere!”

“I know. I know, and I’m so fucking sorry.” I breathe.

She scoffs, staring at me for a long moment before she turns abruptly and locks the front door. I flinch as she flips the sign closed and draws the blinds, effectively sealing us into her interrogation chamber.

“Sit,” she barks.

I do exactly that.

She begins to pace, running a hand up into her hair. “Start talking right now. And don’t you dare sugarcoat a single goddamn thing.”

I inhale slowly and choose my words carefully.

“I didn’t just disappear or wander off. I… uh, I found out who Plague was.”

She stills, her head whipping toward me at that. And here goes fucking nothing.

“He’s my therapist.”

I watch as color drains from her face.

“And I slept with him?” I add. Though it’s not really a question.

“What—wait—how does that have to do with you dropping off the face of the fucking earth, Sadie?” She chokes.

“Well, he uh… he kind of kidnapped me?”

“Kind of? Define kidnapped!” She shrieks.

“Like he decided that I should—”

She bolts for her phone and I’m on my feet in an instant, my hand slamming down on her own moments before she can grab the device. “What the fuck, Sadie? I’m calling the police!”

“Don’t.”

I don’t mean the word to come out as hard as it does. It comes out vicious and hard in a way I’ve never been with her. She jerks her hand away like I’ve stabbed her. “Are you out of your mind?”